Mechanics Bank Expands Agribusiness Lending Focus

WALNUT CREEK, CA, November 11, 2013 — Kash Gill, a seasoned banker with deep roots in California’s farming industry, has been named Senior Vice President and manager of the newly formed Agribusiness Division of Mechanics Bank’s Corporate Banking Group.

According to Scott McAdams, Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Banking, the industry specialty group will be headquartered in the bank’s new Yuba City Office, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2014. Mr. Gill, who joined Mechanics Bank in 2011 as a VP and Senior Relationship Officer in the Roseville Corporate Banking Office, will report directly to Mr. McAdams in his new role.

Mr. Gill is a familiar presence in agriculture circles throughout Northern California. He emigrated with his family from India as a young child, and the entire family worked in farming for many years. He and his wife, Neena, still farm 200 acres of peaches, prunes, and walnuts in Yuba City with their three children. He also is widely known as a civic leader, having served as a Council member and Mayor of Yuba City prior to joining Mechanics Bank.

“Kash understands the business needs and challenges of our agribusiness clients and the communities they live in, because he has lived that life himself,” says Mr. McAdams. “His industry expertise is second to none, and he is well-known and trusted throughout the area. His success in this market made the decision to expand our presence here an easy one. We will be looking to expand his team in an effort to better serve businesses in Sutter, Butte, Yolo and Placer Counties” Mechanics Bank is committed to this area, and to expanding in other agricultural areas of Northern California as well.”

“In this part of California agriculture is truly the backbone of the economy,” says Mr. Gill. “It’s critical for a community bank like ours to be able to offer lending products and expertise that is really tailored to the needs of local farmers. It’s part of fulfilling our mission to be a trusted financial partner in the communities we serve.”

Prior to coming toMechanics Bank Mr. Gill was a senior vice president and regional branch administrator for a network of retail branches at Butte Community Bank/Rabobank.

A graduate of California State University in Chico with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business, Mr. Gill is also a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking, Boulder, Colorado. In addition to his past public service as Councilmember, Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Yuba City, he currently serves on the Council and as Mayor ProTem. He will become Mayor of Yuba City again on December 3rd of this year. Additionally, Mr. Gill has served as Chair of the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce; Board member of the Fremont-Rideout Hospital Foundation; and Board member of the Sutter Health Foundation.

About Mechanics BankFor more than a century, Mechanics Bank has been committed to helping people build prosperous communities as a trusted financial partner, forging lasting relationships through teamwork, respect and integrity. The bank has consistently been recognized as one of the Top 100 Corporate Philanthropists in the Bay Area and one of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area. The $3 billion independent bank, headquartered in Northern California, offers personal banking, business banking, trust and wealth management services across the region. . For more information, please visit www.mechanicsbank.com.